Holy fuck!!!! Clippers with the insanely strong bench will have 18 million free? Wait a minute. Chris Paul will be getting paid, so they aren't even in the mix. But WTF Atlanta has some cap space!!!! WTF?!?!
ooops, sorry, when I said Philly and Minnesota, meat to mention Clippers as well, with Paul eliminating their space. Atlanta has alot of space. Josh Smith cap hold will take up about half of the space they have. And then cap holds on Pachulia, Morrow, a few others.
Well ya, they blew their team up. Joe Johnson is gone, Marvin Williams is gone, Josh Smith will be gone... pretty much all they have left is Horford.
Looks like they are in complete rebuild mode. Although Dwight Howard is from Atlanta area right? Could they be in the mix to land him this offseason?
I just don't think you're going to get much - teams will just wait and try to sign him. So would you trade him for a mid/late draft pick and an expiring contract? Given his status I think that about all you'd get. That's not going to do much to address our weaknesses - all it'll do is help us tank for a draft pick.
I think he means when the free-agent time of off-season happens. We could do a sign and trade; which actually makes more sense for Hickson and us.
I like Hickson quite a bit but I don't think you even get that much for a half-season rental. You get either a late first (if someone has cap space) or a scrub expring player imo. Not even both.
I don't think it's true most teams would "just wait to sign him". A team wanting help for this season might be willing to trade for him, and not care about signing him. Teams make trades for expirings all the time, because of what that player can offer to their stretch run. As for just getting a pick, if Olshey feels pretty strongly that he is not going to re-sign JJ, or at least has a $$ amount he won't go over, but feels it is very likely he gets more, then I would say a first round pick goes a lot further in addressing our weaknesses than nothing at all.
Its better than letting him walk for nothing. If we want to keep him and resign him then fine. If not, move him for two second rounders if thats all anyone offers
Depends on if your goal is playoffs or lottery this year. Lottery sure. Playoffs then you don't move him for that deal of course. Olshey has made conflicting statements but seems he leans playoffs.
He also seems pretty adamant about it not being about this year. That can mean not taking on salary that hurts us in the future to make a small run this year. But it can also mean not hanging on to someone not part of your future plans just to be ok this year.
I agree with all of what you said but it is pretty obvious that if you move Hickson at deadline for picks that you are not coming close to making the playoffs this year. Personally I am on board with keeping our draft pick this year. Not sure Olshey is though.
Id put our chances at 15% to make the playoffs. hence why you move hickson if he isnt in our future plans. There have been rumors he is actively shopping hickson too, so you could say he is leaning towards lottery.
Only thing I have heard regarding Hickson is other teams calling his agent thinking he is available. Not Olshey talking to other teams yet.
I think Ohsley will answer calls about Hickson. I think Leonard's lack of burn has more to do with showcasing Hickson than actually Leonard's inability. We may see a different approach after the trade deadline. Hopefully the minutes for leonard improve after the debacle of trade deadline. Also, I think Hickson has a sense of loyalty with Portland. I think Hickson may get a sign and trade; with us getting a few role players for him. I'm fine with that as well. I still think that we can still keep Hickson and find some role players with our left over cap space.
This would mean we have to keep Hickson through the deadline to summer (sign and trade options). Or is that what you meant to begin with?
Yes that's what I mean. I understand MM's concern, but the jest of this is we can still have the cap space needed to grab a free-agent that can move the needle. Personally I don't think some marquee free agent signing will do much. Our bench is disgusting and we need a bench moreso than 1 big time player. I would much rather find a few players this summer than just one player.
